VLTCX vs. VLGSX
VLTCX (Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares) and VLGSX (Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Index Fund Admiral Shares) are both mutual funds - VLTCX is a Corporate Bonds fund managed by Vanguard, while VLGSX is a Government Bonds fund managed by Vanguard. Over the past 10 years, VLTCX returned 2.42%/yr vs -1.06%/yr for VLGSX. Their correlation of 0.94 suggests significant overlap in exposure. Both charge a 0.07% expense ratio.
Performance
VLTCX vs. VLGSX - Performance Comparison
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Returns By Period
In the year-to-date period, VLTCX achieves a 1.22% return, which is significantly higher than VLGSX's -0.22% return. Over the past 10 years, VLTCX has outperformed VLGSX with an annualized return of 2.42%, while VLGSX has yielded a comparatively lower -1.06% annualized return.
VLTCX
- 1D
- 0.10%
- 1M
- 1.99%
- YTD
- 1.22%
- 6M
- 0.35%
- 1Y
- 8.16%
- 3Y*
- 4.67%
- 5Y*
- -1.46%
- 10Y*
- 2.42%
VLGSX
- 1D
- 0.16%
- 1M
- 1.10%
- YTD
- -0.22%
- 6M
- -1.36%
- 1Y
- 5.60%
- 3Y*
- -0.48%
- 5Y*
- -4.95%
- 10Y*
- -1.06%
VLTCX vs. VLGSX - Yearly Performance Comparison
| 2026 (YTD) | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VLTCX Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 1.22% | 7.27% | -1.47% | 11.05% | -25.77% | -1.16% | 13.68% | 23.19% | -6.85% | 12.40% |
VLGSX Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Index Fund Admiral Shares | -0.22% | 5.42% | -6.17% | 3.66% | -29.48% | -4.99% | 17.70% | 14.31% | -1.62% | 8.65% |
Correlation
The correlation between VLTCX and VLGSX is 0.94, indicating a strong positive relationship between their price movements. Combining them offers limited diversification - they tend to fall together during downturns.
| Correlation | |
|---|---|
Correlation (1Y) Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 0.94 |
Correlation (3Y) Calculated over the trailing 3-year period | 0.96 |
Correlation (5Y) Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | 0.95 |
Correlation (10Y) Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.92 |
Correlation (All Time) Calculated using the full available price history since Nov 24, 2009 | 0.94 |
The correlation between VLTCX and VLGSX has been stable across timeframes, ranging from 0.92 to 0.96 - a consistent structural relationship.
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Return for Risk
VLTCX vs. VLGSX — Risk / Return Rank
VLTCX
VLGSX
VLTCX vs. VLGSX - Risk-Adjusted Trends Comparison
This table presents a comparison of risk-adjusted performance metrics for Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VLTCX) and Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Index Fund Admiral Shares (VLGSX). Risk-adjusted metrics are performance indicators that assess an investment's returns in relation to its risk, enabling a more accurate comparison of different investment options.
| VLTCX | VLGSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sharpe ratioReturn per unit of total volatility | +0.49 | ||
| Sortino ratioReturn per unit of downside risk | +0.67 | ||
| Omega ratioGain probability vs. loss probability | 1.19 | 1.11 | +0.08 |
| Calmar ratioReturn relative to maximum drawdown | 1.60 | 0.79 | +0.82 |
| Martin ratioReturn relative to average drawdown | 3.93 | 2.05 | +1.88 |
Data is calculated on a 1-year rolling basis and updated daily. The trend shows the change in the indicator over the past month. | |||
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Sharpe Ratios by Period
| VLTCX | VLGSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Sharpe Ratio (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 1.11 | 0.62 | +0.49 |
Sharpe Ratio (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period | -0.12 | -0.34 | +0.22 |
Sharpe Ratio (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period | 0.23 | -0.08 | +0.31 |
Sharpe Ratio (All Time)Calculated using the full available price history | 0.45 | 0.17 | +0.27 |
Drawdowns
VLTCX vs. VLGSX - Drawdown Comparison
The maximum VLTCX drawdown since its inception was -34.56%, smaller than the maximum VLGSX drawdown of -46.22%. Use the drawdown chart below to compare losses from any high point for VLTCX and VLGSX.
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Drawdown Indicators
| VLTCX | VLGSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Max DrawdownLargest peak-to-trough decline | -34.56% | -46.22% | +11.66% |
Max Drawdown (1Y)Largest decline over 1 year | -5.29% | -6.99% | +1.70% |
Max Drawdown (3Y)Largest decline over 3 years | -12.87% | -17.67% | +4.80% |
Max Drawdown (5Y)Largest decline over 5 years | -34.56% | -41.02% | +6.46% |
Max Drawdown (10Y)Largest decline over 10 years | -34.56% | -46.22% | +11.66% |
Current DrawdownCurrent decline from peak | -13.80% | -36.45% | +22.65% |
Average DrawdownAverage peak-to-trough decline | -8.04% | -15.12% | +7.08% |
Ulcer IndexDepth and duration of drawdowns from previous peaks | 2.15% | 2.68% | -0.53% |
Volatility
VLTCX vs. VLGSX - Volatility Comparison
The current volatility for Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares (VLTCX) is 2.46%, while Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Index Fund Admiral Shares (VLGSX) has a volatility of 2.64%. This indicates that VLTCX experiences smaller price fluctuations and is considered to be less risky than VLGSX based on this measure. The chart below showcases a comparison of their rolling one-month volatility.
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Volatility by Period
| VLTCX | VLGSX | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
Volatility (1M)Calculated over the trailing 1-month period | 2.46% | 2.64% | -0.18% |
Volatility (6M)Calculated over the trailing 6-month period | 5.52% | 6.08% | -0.56% |
Volatility (1Y)Calculated over the trailing 1-year period | 7.68% | 8.94% | -1.26% |
Volatility (5Y)Calculated over the trailing 5-year period, annualized | 11.87% | 14.55% | -2.68% |
Volatility (10Y)Calculated over the trailing 10-year period, annualized | 10.60% | 13.71% | -3.11% |
VLTCX vs. VLGSX - Expense Ratio Comparison
Both VLTCX and VLGSX have an expense ratio of 0.07%, making them cost-effective options compared to the broader market, where average expense ratios typically range from 0.3% to 0.9%.
Dividends
VLTCX vs. VLGSX - Dividend Comparison
VLTCX's dividend yield for the trailing twelve months is around 5.50%, more than VLGSX's 4.57% yield.
| Position | TTM | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
VLGSX Vanguard Long-Term Treasury Index Fund Admiral Shares | 4.57% | 4.41% | 4.65% | 3.30% | 2.80% | 1.85% | 2.13% | 2.45% | 2.72% | 2.55% | 2.46% | 2.80% |
VLTCX Vanguard Long-Term Corporate Bond Index Fund Admiral Shares | 5.50% | 5.48% | 5.58% | 4.65% | 4.41% | 3.03% | 3.15% | 3.82% | 4.56% | 4.01% | 4.37% | 4.71% |
Frequently Asked Questions
With a correlation of 0.94, VLTCX and VLGSX move almost identically. Holding both adds very little diversification - you're essentially doubling your position in the same market segment. Choosing one is usually more capital-efficient.
VLGSX has higher volatility (2.64%) compared to VLTCX (2.46%). In terms of maximum drawdown, VLTCX dropped -34.56% vs VLGSX's -46.22%.
VLTCX currently has the higher Sharpe Ratio (1.11 vs 0.62), meaning it's delivered slightly more return per unit of risk over the trailing 12 months. However, this ranking shifts over time - use the Risk/Return Score above for a more comprehensive view that combines Sharpe, Sortino, and other measures used by quantitative funds.
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